Nikola Jokic’s trophy case just got a little more crowded, and this one reaches back to the days before Denver ever made him a Nugget.
The ABA League named Jokic the best player in its 25-year history and handed him its first-ever ICON Award, another reminder that his rise started long before he became the face of the Nuggets. Jokic was already a standout in the league that helped launch him, and now the competition has stamped him as its defining player.
For Jokic, the honor ties directly to where his path began. He grew up following the #ABALiga, then played in it, and eventually became an ABA League ICON. The league shared a video message from Jokic for the occasion, and he made it clear the recognition still matters to him.
"I'm grateful for this award, since I grew up playing in this league," Jokic said in the video. "But I think this kind of award would be more significant when I'm finished with my career, and when I look back. It's a great award, for sure."
Before the Nuggets selected him with the 41st pick in the second round of the 2014 NBA draft, Jokic had already claimed the ABA League MVP Award in the season before he arrived in Denver. He also finished his final overseas season with Mega Basket in Serbia in 2014-15 as the league’s top prospect, putting up 15.4 points, a league-leading 9.3 rebounds, and 3.5 assists. One of the clearest examples of what was coming was a 27-point, 15-rebound, 4-assist performance against MZT Skopje.
What Jokic has done since then has only deepened the legend. He has won three MVP awards and finished first or second in the voting six times over the last six years, a run matched only by Bill Russell and Larry Bird.
His 2025-26 season may have been his best yet, with averages of 27.7 points, 12.9 rebounds, and 10.7 assists. That also made him the first player in NBA history to lead the league in rebounds and assists in the same season.
His resume already includes an NBA Finals MVP, the Nuggets’ first-ever NBA championship, and six All-NBA First Team selections. Now the ABA League ICON Award joins the list, another piece of hardware for a player who has been one wherever he’s played.
In Other News...
Nuggets Bench Battle Could Reshape Denvers Rotation Fast
Denvers second unit is already shaping up as one of the most interesting parts of the roster heading toward the 2026-27 season, with offseason turnover set to force real changes in how the Nuggets piece together their rotation. Julian Strawther, Christian Braun and Spencer Jones are all in the mix to see their roles shift, and the teams decisions around the bench will go a long way toward determining how much stability the supporting cast can provide around the core.
Spencer Jones place in that picture is especially notable after Denver chose to retain him, a sign the front office sees value in what he brings as it tries to improve the teams defensive rating. With Braun and Strawther also positioned for different workloads, the Nuggets may not just be tweaking the end of the rotation - they could be reworking how that entire second unit functions from night to night. [Read more 🡒]
Nuggets Are Finally Addressing Their Toughest Offseason Loss
The Nuggets are still sorting through one of the summers tougher exits, with 23-year-old forward Peyton Watson now gone after a restricted free agency process and a move that sent him to the Cleveland Cavaliers for a future first-round pick. Watson had become a meaningful part of Denvers rotation, coming off a strong season in which he averaged 14.6 points and led the team in blocks per game, so his departure lands differently than a routine roster shuffle.
Assistant coach Ognjen Stojakovi acknowledged how hard it is to lose a young player with that kind of growth, but he also framed the conversation around what comes next. For Denver, the message is clear enough: the roster has changed, the sting is real, and the focus now shifts back to the one goal that keeps every offseason decision in perspective, chasing a championship. [Read more 🡒]
Christian Braun Just Put Denvers Offseason Doubts On Notice
Christian Braun spent the offseason with plenty of noise swirling around the Nuggets, and he has made it clear he heard it. The guard has been answering the critiques tied to his summer work and the ankle issue that interrupted his last season, while also sounding energized as training camp approaches. Denvers roster has changed around him, too, with the front office bringing in DeMar DeRozan, keeping Spencer Jones and moving on from some familiar names.
For a team trying to regroup after another round of turnover, Brauns response matters because he sits right in the middle of Denvers next step. The Nuggets need young players to settle in quickly, and Brauns confidence gives them at least one steady voice amid the uncertainty. The remaining question is whether his offseason reset turns into the kind of early-season leap Denver has been hoping to see. [Read more 🡒]